History

LOGAN, Utah -
Utah State wide receiver Aaron Jones was named a co-Big West Conference Offensive Football Player of the Week it was announced on Monday by the league office. Jones earned the award after his performance in Utah State's 30-14 victory against Southern Utah on Saturday, Sept. 9.

Jones had five receptions for 127 yards with three of those receptions going for touchdowns. Jones scored all three of his touchdowns within a nine minute span between the end of the third quarter and beginning of the fourth quarter to lead the Aggies to a come-from-behind win.

Jones has reached the 100-yard plateau in five games in his career and his three touchdowns matched his career high as he had three against Stephen F. Austin last year. After two weeks, Jones ranks seventh in the nation in scoring at 12.0 points per game, 10th in receiving yards, averaging 108.5 and 12th in receptions at 6.5 per contest.

"I think Aaron Jones stepped it up," said USU head coach Mick Dennehy. "I thought he made some huge plays and he made some plays that guys need to step up and make. I think it gets everybody going. "

Jones averaged 25.4 yards on his five catches, including a 70-yard touchdown reception for the second-longest reception of his career.

"He has great speed and has great hands," Dennehy added. "The thing that excites me about Aaron is that he is working to become a better all-around player. He is blocking better and I think he is working harder and he is taking more pride in that part of his game. He has always done the other things pretty well, but he is becoming a more complete player."

Jones shared the award with Boise State sophomore Brock Forsey, who set a school record with 292 all-purpose yards, including 167 of them coming on the ground. Forsey averaged 11.1 yards per carry, 24.5 yards per kick return, and scored two touchdowns.

North Texas junior linebacker Brad Kassell was named the Big West Defensive Player of the Week. Kassell did his part to hold a Texas Tech offense to just 13 points, the fewest points scored against a non-conference foe at home since a loss during the 1992 season. Kassell picked off two passes, returning one interception 23 yards for a touchdown, the lone points of the game for the Mean Green. Kassell also had nine tackles and forced a fumble.

North Texas junior punter Jason Ball was named the Big West Special Teams Player of the Week. Ball averaged 43.6 yards per kick and put four punts inside the 20-yard line. He pinned Texas Tech back on the 6, 8, 11, and 19 and also had a 63-yard punt. Ball saved a touchdown on one of his punts with a tackle at the 33-yard line.

Utah State will have a bye on Sept. 16 before returning to action at Arizona State on Sept. 23.